Last week I laid out a biblical case for all civil governments being theocratic (a single god) rather than pluralistic (diverse gods), 
because there is no neutrality in all of life: “He who is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30), and that is true of nations as well as individuals A nation’s constitution expresses how a nation’s god wishes that nation to function. Today, I want to look at how we can realistically adjust our Constitution, and then our civil government, to make it the powerful weapon God gave us to help bring the rule of Jesus to our fallen world!
For the most part, the current Constitution is a wonderful document, the greatest national constitution in history, with the vast majority of its ideas and structure based on the Bible (E.C. Wines, The Roots of the American Republic). The framers, with their Puritan heritage, recognized the inherent sinfulness of man and his need to be restrained, witness Thomas Jefferson’s famous quote, “Let no more be said about the confidence of men, but bind them down from mischief with the chains of the Constitution.”
Another indication of its biblical heritage is the separation of powers that is implied in Isaiah 33:22: “For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us.” In this verse, the judicial, legislative and executive branches of government are all indicated, as Jesus delegates His authority to them from the right hand of God. When we ignore this safeguard, instituted to restrain man’s inherent self-seeking, we suffer the consequences.
However, as we attempt to use the Bible as our foundation and legal authority, there are adjustments to the Constitution that will need to be made. Those suggested here are only suggestions, a starting point for discussion. Once the permanent authority, the Word of God, IS ESTABLISHED, the application of that Word, found in both federal and state constitutions, CAN BE DETERMINED by men of God seeking to solve the problems of the nation with biblical solutions.
Let’s look at some issues that will be different from our current Constitution.
1. Who is now a citizen in the United States? Currently, all those who are born on American soil or who are born to one or more American citizens are natural born citizens of the United States. Citizenship is based on the location of birth or the citizenship of parents.
In the biblical pattern, this is not the case. In the nation Israel, citizenship was based on one’s covenantal relationship with Jehovah God. The covenant was a national covenant based on 1) one’s ethnicity (Jewish) and 2) circumcision as the sign of being a member of the covenant people.
Under the New Covenant, the covenant people of God are no longer an ethnic people group, the Jews, but they now come from every nation, tribe and tongue. Membership in God’s covenant people is not by birth or circumcision but by FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST as the Son of God and His death on the cross for our sins.
There were those who lived in Israel, even born in Israel, called “strangers,” or “sojourners,” who were not members of the national covenant. They were not “citizens” with full national privileges, but they could work, own businesses, participate in national life and enjoy all the blessings of living in a nation that had Jehovah as its God. They were honored, accepted and not discriminated against in any way.
However, since they were not citizens, they could not vote or hold any leadership positions and help to determine public policy. If, after a period of time, they determined that the God of Israel was the God they would like to make their God, they could convert to Judaism as a proselyte, become circumcised and be a fully participating member of the covenant people!
Throughout the history of Israel, proselytes played a prominent role. Rahab and Ruth, both non-Jews, are in the lineage of Jesus. Under the kings, strangers rose to influential positions (Doeg the Edomite (1 Samuel 21:7), Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11:3). After the return from Babylon many “had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God” with their families (Nehemiah 10:28), and in Esther’s time “many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them” (Esther 8:17).
So, historically, God’s people do not represent a “closed shop,” only for a select few from a favored nation, race or ethnic group, but membership in God’s covenant people was always open to all whose “God is the LORD.”
With this biblical perspective, here is a modern-day application of this principle, attempting to follow scriptural principles as closely as possible.
2. Who can be a citizen of a Christian United States? – All professed, Trinitarian, baptized Christians, who are members in good standing of a Trinitarian church with a functioning church government that holds to the Apostle’s Creed can be citizens of a Christian United States!
This IS NOT the establishment of a particular denomination or theology, but the establishment of a STATE TRIMNITARIAN, CHRISTIAN CHURCH, recognized by the state as an official state church. The individual churches can be denominational or independent as long as the church has an accountable membership, is Trinitarian, and subscribes to the Apostle’s creed. The civil government has no say whatsoever as to the church’s theology or doctrine, but the church can be a part of the national church if they meet the above criteria, thus making their members who are over 21 and in good standing eligible to be citizens of the United States.
Some would question the necessity of belonging to a church rather than simply claiming to be a Christian. However, a willingness to submit to church authority and have the fruit of one’s faith publicly recognized and evaluated is a good (although not perfect) indication that one’s faith is genuine.
This church membership is a prerequisite for citizenship and, obviously, for holding public office. Therefore:
3. Citizens only can hold public office – Article 6 section 3 of the Constitution says: “The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” The bold text shall be amended to read: “All office holders must be United States citizens who have subscribed to a Trinitarian oath and be a member in good standing of a national church in order to hold any office or public trust under the United States.”
4. No citizenship based on birth –. When a child reaches 21, if he is a Christian, he can make a profession of faith, join a Trinitarian church, and become a citizen, or remain a sojourner, experiencing all the privileges of citizenship—except voting and running for public office. Only adult citizens can vote and run for office.
In this posting, we have established the basis of and the requirements for citizenship in a Christian United States of America. Last week we saw how our current Constitutional Preamble sets the stage for a pluralistic, not a Christian nation. Next week we will summarize proposed Constitutional changes and the resultant impact a biblical Constitution would have on our daily lives.
